The Australian Women have started their 2023/24 summer season in the best way possible, defeating the West Indies by eight wickets in the first match of their series.

Despite a starring innings with the bat from Hayley Matthews, it was not enough for the West Indies as Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath starred with the bat to help the Aussies get over the line.

After being sent into bat, the West Indies got off to a pretty solid start, going at about five and a half runs an over before losing their first wicket.

The pitch turned out to be one to favour the batters, as wickets proved hard to come by for the bowlers.

The West Indies went on to only lose two more wickets, which came in the 13^th and final overs.

However the true star and saviour for the West Indies was Matthews. Without Matthews’ innings of 99 not out, the West Indies would have been in real trouble.

On the other side of the equation, Ash Gardner and Darcie Brown were the two Australian bowlers to pick up wickets.

In the chase, the Australians got off to an even quicker start, but also lost their first wicket quicker than their visitors had.

However, the Australians’ scoring only got quicker from there, as McGrath and Healy put on an 85 run partnership inside seven overs to really blow the game open.

Once Healy’s wicket fell, McGrath and Gardner easily finished up the job, needing only about four overs to score the last 42 runs.

McGrath ultimately top scored for the Australians with 60 not out, while Healy made 56.

Meanwhile for the West Indies Chinelle Henry and Matthews were the two bowlers who picked up a wicket each.

These two teams do not have to wait long before they face each other again, with the second of the T20s of the series set to take place tonight.